Trouble in Acapulco's Paradise

Trouble in Acapulco's Paradise - WSJ.com: "Acapulco was once the playground for Hollywood's jet set. Nowadays, the resort has become a battleground for Mexican drug cartels.

Last year, more than 400 people died as rival drug gangs fought for control of the port city of more than one million. On a recent blood-soaked weekend, more than 30 bodies were found dumped in parts of the city, many missing their heads.

No foreign tourist has been caught in the violence, most of which involves gangs fighting other gangs and takes place a few miles from the tourist areas. But news of the violence is scaring away visitors. The city's famous discos sit half empty. Rumors circulate on Twitter and Facebook warning of possible gang attacks.


For years, Acapulco was synonymous with glamour. But these days the resort city is known for something else: Mexico's ferocious drug war. WSJ's David Luhnow reports.

'It's a psychosis,' says Javier Aluni, general manager of the Las Brisas Hotel, a city landmark that has hosted the likes of Brad Pitt and Liza Minelli. 'Acapulco is safe for tourists. I wouldn't live here with my 7-, 9- and 11-year-old daughters if it weren't.'"

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